List of convicts transported to Australia

Last updated December 02, 2024

Penal transportation to Australia began with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and ended in 1868. Overall, approximately 165,000 convicts were transported to Australia.

Convicts

A

Esther Abrahams (c. 1767–1846), English wife of George Johnston, transported to New South Wales in 1788 for theft

B

Joseph Backler (1813–1895), English artist, transported to New South Wales in 1832 for forgery
William Bannon (1826–1904), Irish soldier, transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1849 for theft
George Barrington (1755–1804), Irish author and socialite, transported to New South Wales in 1788 for pickpocketing
Thomas Barrett (c. 1754–1788), English artist, transported to New South Wales in 1788 for mutiny
John Baughan (1754–1797), English carpenter, transported to New South Wales in 1788 for theft
Sarah Bellamy (1770–1843), English maid, servant and weaver, transported to New South Wales for theft
Andrew Bent (1790–1851), English printer and publisher, transported to New South Wales for burglary
James Blackburn (1803–1854), English architect and engineer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for forgery
William Bland (1789–1868), English politician and inventor, transported to Van Diemen's Land for manslaughter
Solomon Blay (1816–1897), English hangman, transported to Van Diemen's Land for forgery
James Bloodsworth (1759–1804), English builder, transported to New South Wales for theft
Billy Blue (c. 1767–1834), Jamaican boatman, transported to New South Wales for theft
Thomas Bock (1790–1855), English artist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for administering drugs to a young woman
Ruth Bowyer (c. 1761–1788), English First Fleeter, transported to New South Wales for theft
Matthew Brady (1799–1826), English bushranger, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
Richard Browne (1776–1824), Irish artist, transported to New South Wales for forgery
Mary Bryant (1765–?), Cornish escapee, transported to New South Wales for highway robbery
William Bryant (c. 1757–1791), Cornish escapee, transported to New South Wales for impersonating a Royal Navy seaman
William Buckley (1780–1856), English escapee, transported to New South Wales for possessing a roll of stolen cloth
Knud Bull (1811–1889), Norwegian artist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for forgery
Richard Burgess (1829–1866), English bushranger, transported to New South Wales for highway robbery
Robert Francis Burns (1840–1883), Irish murderer, transported to Western Australia for theft

C

John Cadman (1772–1848), English publican, transported to New South Wales for horse theft
John Caesar (c. 1763–1796), Madagascan or West Indian bushranger, transported to New South Wales for theft
Elizabeth Callaghan (1802–1852), Irish wife of explorer John Batman, transported to New South Wales for forgery^[1]
John Casey (?–1882), Irish rebel, transported to New South Wales for insurrection
Martin Cash (1808–1877), Irish bushranger, transported to New South Wales for shooting at a man
Denis Cashman (1842–1897), Irish Fenian, transported to Western Australia for treason
Margaret Catchpole (1762–1819), English adventuress and chronicler, transported to New South Wales for horse theft
Alfred Chopin (1846–1902), English photographer, transported to Western Australia for receiving stolen goods
William Clackson (c. 1799–?), Scottish shoemaker and activist, transported to New South Wales for his role in the Radical War
Daniel Connor (1831–1898), Irish businessman and politician, transported to Western Australia in 1853 for sheep stealing
Daniel Cooper (1785–1853), English businessman, transported to New South Wales for theft
William Cuffay (1788–1870), English Chartist leader, transported to Van Diemen's Land for sedition and "levying war" against Queen Victoria

D

David Davies (1812–1874), Welsh poet and rebel, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Rebecca Riots
John Davies (1813–1872), English journalist and newspaper proprietor, transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1830 for receiving stolen goods
Edward Davis (1816–1841), Jewish bushranger, transported to New South Wales for theft
James Davis (1807–1889), Scottish escapee, transported to New South Wales for theft
Ann Dinham (1827–1882), English innkeeper, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
James Dixon (1758–1840), Irish priest, transported to New South Wales in 1800 for his role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
Jack Donahue (1804–1830), Irish bushranger, transported to New South Wales for intent to commit a felony
Aimable Duperouzel (1831–1901), French farmer, transported to Western Australia for robbery^[2]

E

Edward Eagar (1787–1866), Irish lawyer and merchant, transported to New South Wales for forgery
Edmund Edgar (1804–1854), English artist, transported to New South Wales in 1826 for theft
Ralph Entwistle (c. 1805–1830), English bushranger and leader of the Bathurst rebellion, transported to New South Wales for theft
John Eyre (1771–?), English artist, transported to New South Wales for housebreaking

F

Gilburri (1814–1902), Irish Fenian, transported to New South Wales in 1838 for desertion
Thomas McCarthy Fennell (1841–1914), Irish Fenian, transported to Western Australia in 1868 for treason
William Field (1774–1837), English businessman, transported to New for receiving stolen goods
John Frost (1784–1877), Welsh Chartist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Newport Rising
Henry Fulton (1761–1840), Irish clergyman and schoolmaster, transported to New South Wales for his role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798

G

Henry Beresford Garrett (c. 1818–1885), English bushranger, transported to Norfolk Island for assault
Joseph Gerrald (1763–1796), West Indian-born political reformer, transported to New South Wales for sedition
James Goodwin (c. 1800–c. 1835), English escapee and explorer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
John Guard (c. 1791–1857), English whaler, transported to New South Wales for theft
William Buelow Gould (1801–1853), English artist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
Francis Greenway (1777–1837), English architect, transported to New South Wales for forgery
William Henry Groom (1833–1901), English politician, transported to New South Wales for embezzlement

H

Laurence Hynes Halloran (1765–1831), Irish poet and schoolmaster, transported to New South Wales for forgery
Dorothy Handland (1706–?), English rag dealer, transported to New South Wales for perjury^[3]
Henry Browne Hayes (1762–1832), Irish knight and adventurer, transported to New South Wales for kidnapping
Daniel Herbert (1802–1868), English artist and stonemason, transported to Van Diemen's Land for highway robbery
Joseph Holt (1756–1826), Irish farmer and rebel leader, transported to New South Wales for his role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
William Horton (1817–1864), English publican, transported to New South Wales for larceny of a coat^[4]^[5]
George Howe (1769–1821), English poet and printer, transported to New South Wales for shoplifting
Michael Howe (1787–1818), English bushranger, transported to Van Diemen's Land for highway robbery
Ralph Hush (1779–1860), English farmer, transported to New South Wales for theft
William Hutchinson (1772–1846), English businessman, transported to New South Wales for theft
Mary Hyde (1779–1864), English businesswoman, transported to New South Wales for theft

J

Mark Jeffrey (1825–1903), English criminal, transported to New South Wales for burglary
Joseph Bolitho Johns (c. 1826–1900), English bushranger, also known as Moondyne Joe, transported to Western Australia for theft
George Jones (c. 1815–1844), English bushranger, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
William Jones (1809–1873), Welsh Chartist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Newport Rising
Jørgen Jørgensen (1780–1841), Danish adventurer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft

K

Henry Kable (1763–1846), English businessman, transported to New South Wales for theft
Lawrence Kavenagh (c. 1805–1846), Irish bushranger, transported to Van Diemen's Land for burglary
John Knatchbull (c. 1791–1844), English naval captain, transported to New South Wales for theft

L

Solomon Levey (1794–1833), English merchant, transported to New South Wales for theft
Simeon Lord (1771–1840), English businessman, transported to New South Wales for theft
George Loveless (1797–1874), English labourer, transported to New South Wales as one of the Tolpuddle Martyrs
Nathaniel Lucas (1764–1818), English carpenter, transported to New South Wales for theft
Joseph Lycett (1774–c. 1825), English artist, transported to New South Wales for forgery
John Lynch (1813–1842), Irish serial killer, transported to New South Wales for false pretense
Samuel Lyons (1791–1851), English businessman, transported to New South Wales for theft

M

Thomas Muir Thomas-Muir-bust-by-Alexander-Stoddart.jpg — Thomas Muir

Francis MacNamara c. 1810–1861), Irish poet, also known as Frank the Poet, transported to Van Diemen's Land for larceny
John Martin (1812–1875), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for sedition
Terence MacManus (1811–1861), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
Maurice Margarot (1745–1815), English political reformer, transported to New South Wales for sedition
Valentine Marshall (1814–1874), English farmer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Reform Act Riots
Thomas Francis Meagher (1823–1867), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
George Mealmaker (1768–1808), Scottish political reformer, transported to New South Wales for sedition
James Meehan (1774–1826), Irish surveyor, transported to New South Wales in 1800 for his role in the Irish Rebellion of 1798
John Mitchel (1815–1875), Irish nationalist and author, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
Enoch Moore (1779–1841), Canadian rebel, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Rebellions of 1837
Molly Morgan (1762–1835), English landowner, transported to New South Wales for theft and arson
Thomas Muir (1765–1799), Scottish political reformer and escapee, transported to New South Wales for sedition

N

Isaac Nichols (1770–1819), English businessman and postman, transported to New South Wales for theft

O

William Smith O'Brien (1803–1864), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
Kevin Izod O'Doherty (1823–1905), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
Patrick O'Donoghue (–1854), Irish nationalist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for treason
Cornelius O'Mahony (1840–1879), Irish scholar and Fenian, transported to Western Australia in 1868 for his role in the Fenian Rising
John Boyle O'Reilly (1844–1890), Irish Fenian, poet and author, transported to Western Australia for his role in the Fenian Rising
James Oatley (c. 1769–1839), English watchmaker, transported to New South Wales for theft

P

Thomas Fyshe Palmer (1747–1802), English political reformer, transported to New South Wales for sedition
Thomas Pamphlett (c. 1788–1838), English castaway, transported to New South Wales for theft
Robert Pate (1819–1895), English army officer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for attacking Queen Victoria
Alexander Pearce (1790–1824), Irish escapee and cannibal, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
Joseph Potaski (1764–1824), Polish soldier, transported to Van Diemen's Land for theft
Elizabeth Pulley (1762–1837), English servant, transported to New South Wales in 1788 for burglary

R

Elizabeth Read (c. 1820–1884), English prostitute, transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1841 for theft
Richard Read Sr. (c. 1765–c. 1829), English artist, transported to New South Wales for possessing forged banknotes
William Redfern (1774–1833), English surgeon, transported to New South Wales for mutiny
Leopold Redpath (1816–1891), English clerk, transported to Western Australia for fraud
Mary Reibey (1777–1855), English businesswoman, transported to New South Wales in 1792 for horse theft
John Richardson (c. 1797–1882), English explorer and botanist, transported to New South Wales for larceny
Hannah Rigby (c. 1794–1853), English embroiderer, transported multiple times for theft
Michael Massey Robinson (1744–1826), English poet, transported to New South Wales for extortion
Charles Rodius (1802–1860), German artist, transported to New South Wales for theft^[6]
Anthony Rope (1756–1843), Norfolk farmer, transported on First Fleet to New South Wales for theft
James Ruse (c. 1759–1837), Cornish farmer, transported to New South Wales for housebreaking

S

Joseph Samuel (c. 1780–1806), English escapee, transported to Van Diemen's Land for robbery
Henry Savery (1791–1842), English novelist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for forgery
Shoni Sguborfawr (1811–1858), Welsh rebel, transported to Norfolk Island for his role in the Rebecca Riots
Robert Sidaway (1758–1809), English philanthropist, transported to New South Wales for theft
William Skirving (c. 1745–1796), Scottish political reformer, transported to New South Wales for sedition
Emanuel Solomon (1800–1873), English businessman and politician, transported to New South Wales for larceny
Ikey Solomon (c. 1787–1850), English criminal, transported to Van Diemen's Land for receiving stolen goods
Vaiben Solomon (1798–1860), English businessman and politician, transported to New South Wales for larceny
James Squire (1754–1822), English brewer, transported to New South Wales for highway robbery
Elizabeth Steel (c. 1760–1795), English deaf person, transported to New South Wales for theft
Owen Suffolk (1829–?), English poet and bushranger, transported to New South Wales for forgery

T

John Tawell (1784–1845), English chemist and murderer, transported to New South Wales for forgery
Hohepa Te Umuroa (c. 1820s–1847), Maori warrior, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the New Zealand Wars
Samuel Terry (c. 1776–1838), English philanthropist, transported to New South Wales for theft
Andrew Thompson (c. 1773–1810), Scottish farmer, magistrate, transported to New South Wales for theft
William Tucker (c. 1784–1817), English sealer, transported to New South Wales for theft

U

James Underwood (1771–1844) English shipbuilder, distiller and merchant, transported to New South Wales in 1790

V

James Hardy Vaux (1782–?), English author and serial thief, transported to New South Wales on three separate occasions

W

Thomas Griffiths Wainewright (1794–1847), English artist, journalist and alleged serial killer, transported to Van Diemen's Land for forgery
James Walsh ( 1833–1871), English artist, transported to Western Australia for theft and forgery
Thomas Watling (1762–c. 1814), Scottish artist, transported to New South Wales for forgery
William Westwood (c. 1830–1846), English bushranger and leader of the Cooking Pot Uprising, transported to New South Wales for stealing a coat
Joseph Wild (c. 1759–1847), English explorer, transported to New South Wales for burglary
Henry Wildman (1838–?), English explorer, transported to Western Australia for burglary
Frances Williams (c. 1760–1801), Welsh woman, transported to New South Wales then Norfolk Island for burglary^[7]
John Williams (c. 1820–?), English boatman, transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1852 for theft
Zephaniah Williams (1795–1874), Welsh Chartist, transported to Van Diemen's Land for his role in the Newport Rising
James Wilson (1836–1921), Irish Fenian, transported to Western Australia for desertion and mutiny
Solomon Wiseman (1777–1838), English merchant and ferryman, transported to New South Wales for theft

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Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration and colonisation of Australia in the 19th century. The island was previously discovered and named by the Dutch in 1642. Explorer Abel Tasman discovered the island, working under the sponsorship of Anthony van Diemen, the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. The British retained the name when they established a settlement in 1803 before it became a separate colony in 1825. Its penal colonies became notorious destinations for the transportation of convicts due to the harsh environment, isolation and reputation for being inescapable.

Bushrangers were armed robbers and outlaws who resided in the Australian bush between the 1780s and the early 20th century. The original use of the term dates back to the early years of the British colonisation of Australia, and applied to transported convicts who had escaped into the bush to hide from the authorities. By the 1820s, the term had evolved to refer to those who took up "robbery under arms" as a way of life, using the bush as their base.

The First Fleet were 11 British ships which transported a group of settlers to mainland Australia, marking the beginning of the European colonisation of Australia. It consisted of two Royal Navy vessels, three storeships and six convict transports under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. On 13 May 1787, the ships, with over 1,400 convicts, marines, sailors, colonial officials and free settlers onboard, left Portsmouth and travelled over 24,000 kilometres (15,000 mi) and over 250 days before arriving in Botany Bay in January 1788. There, they established the colony of New South Wales, a penal colony which would become the first British settlement in Australia.

William Smith O'Brien was an Irish nationalist Member of Parliament (MP) and a leader of the Young Ireland movement. He also encouraged the use of the Irish language. He was convicted of sedition for his part in the Young Irelander "Famine Rebellion" of 1848 but his sentence of death was commuted to deportation to Van Diemen's Land. In 1854, he was released on the condition of exile from Ireland, and he lived in Brussels for two years. In 1856 Smith O'Brien was pardoned and returned to Ireland, but he was never active again in politics.

Terence Bellew MacManus was an Irish rebel who participated in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Sentenced to death for treason, he and several other participants were given commuted sentences in 1849 and transported for life to Van Diemen's Land in Australia. Three years later in 1852, MacManus escaped and emigrated to the United States.

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Alexander Pearce was an Irish convict who was transported to the penal colony in Van Diemen's Land, Australia for seven years for theft. He escaped from prison several times, allegedly becoming a cannibal during one of the escapes. In another escape, with one companion, he allegedly killed him and ate him in pieces. He was eventually captured and was hanged in Hobart for murder, before being dissected.

Lawrence Kavenagh was an Irish-Australian convict bushranger who, with Martin Cash and George Jones, escaped from Port Arthur, Van Diemen's Land, in late 1842. The three men took to bushranging for a six-month period, robbing homesteads and inns with seeming impunity. Kavenagh was tried for serious crimes on five separate occasions. He was executed in 1846 at Norfolk Island.

Between 1788 and 1868 the British penal system transported about 162,000 convicts from Great Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia.

John Williams was a convict transported to Van Diemen's Land. He is best known as the man with whom Joseph Johns, later to become the bushranger Moondyne Joe, was arrested and tried for burglary.

John Donahue, also spelled Donohoe, and known as Jack Donahue and Bold Jack Donahue, was an Irish-born bushranger in Australia between 1825 and 1830. He became part of the notorious "Wild Colonial Boys".

The following lists events that happened during 1825 in Australia.

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Joseph Lycett was a portrait and miniature painter, active in Australia. Transported to Australia for forging banknotes, Lycett found work in the colony as a painter specialised in topographical views of the major towns of Australia, and some of its more dramatic landscapes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Webber</span> English artist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Buelow Gould</span> English and Van Diemonian painter

William Buelow Gould was a painter born in the United Kingdom and later working in Van Diemen's Land. He was transported to Australia as a convict in 1827, after which he would become one of the most important early artists in the colony, despite never really separating himself from his life of crime.

The Frederick escape was an 1834 incident in which the brig Frederick was hijacked by ten Australian convicts and used to abscond to Chile, where they lived freely for two years. Four of the convicts were later recaptured and returned to Australia, where they escaped the death sentence for piracy through a legal technicality.

Crime in Tasmania has existed since the earliest days of the European settlement in 1803. Laws creating criminal offences are contained entirely in statutes, statutory regulations, and by-laws, common law offences having been abolished by the Criminal Code Act 1924 s 6. Most offences are enforced by Tasmania Police, although a small category of offences are prosecuted by other statutory authorities such as local governments, and the Tasmanian branch of RSPCA Australia. All offences are prosecuted through the Tasmanian justice system, and sentences of imprisonment are administered by the Tasmania Prison Service. Some crime statistics for Tasmania are provided on the Tasmania Police website.

References

↑ Watson, Reg. "John Batman: A Life ..." Tasmanian Times. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
↑ The Brand on his coat : biographies of some Western Australian convicts. Erickson, Rica. Nedlands, W.A.: University of Western Australia Press. 1983. pp. 106–113. ISBN 0855642238. OCLC 12051617.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
↑ Hughes, Robert (1986). The Fatal Shore. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. p. 73. ISBN 0-394-75366-6.
↑ "William Horton". National Trust of Australia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
↑ "Royal Bull's Head Inn (entry 600838)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
↑ Gilmour, Joanna (1 June 2010). "Fine and dandy" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , National Portrait Gallery (Portrait 27). Retrieved 5 October 2015.
↑ Collins, Hayley (8 November 2011). "Flintshire Woman Shipped to Australia for Stealing Clothes". The Leader . Retrieved 10 September 2023.

External links

Convict Records

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[1] Watson, Reg. "John Batman: A Life ..." Tasmanian Times. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.

[2] The Brand on his coat : biographies of some Western Australian convicts. Erickson, Rica. Nedlands, W.A.: University of Western Australia Press. 1983. pp. 106–113. ISBN 0855642238. OCLC 12051617.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)

[3] Hughes, Robert (1986). The Fatal Shore. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. p. 73. ISBN 0-394-75366-6.

[4] "William Horton". National Trust of Australia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.

[qhr-5] "Royal Bull's Head Inn (entry 600838)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.

[6] Gilmour, Joanna (1 June 2010). "Fine and dandy" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine , National Portrait Gallery (Portrait 27). Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[7] Collins, Hayley (8 November 2011). "Flintshire Woman Shipped to Australia for Stealing Clothes". The Leader . Retrieved 10 September 2023.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

List of convicts transported to Australia

Contents

Convicts

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

U

V

W

See also

Related Research Articles

References

External links